Preseason All-Canadian Team & Rookies

With
meaningful NCAA games just around the corner, its time to take a preseason peek
at the best players Canada has exported to the U.S. for this season. While many
of the big name Canucks have gone on to the play-for-pay big leagues this season
there are still quite a few left who will make an impact. Here is CHN Preseason
All-Canadian squad:

Guard - Antwi Atuahene – JR
– Arizona State

Mississauga’s (Toronto suburb) Atuahene had a solid first season as a
Sun Devil (he spent his first year of eligibility playing JUCO ball). Starting
half of the team’s games, Antwi ranked only behind Mustafa Shakur and Jordan
Farmar on the Pac-10 Assist leader board (conference games only). With good
size for a point guard (6’3” 205lbs), Atuahene will look to step up his game to
impress new coach Herb Sendek.

Guard -
Tristan Blackwood – JR – Central Connecticut

The diminutive Toronto native might not get a lot of ink playing in the tiny
Northeast Conference, but last season he showed he deserves some attention. He
ranked in the conference’s top 10 in seven statistical categories – scoring,
assists, free throw %, steals, three point %, threes made per game and assist to
turnover ratio.

Guard - Majak Kou – SR – Loyola (IL)

The skinny (6’5” 165lb) Hamilton, Ont. native has one of the best all-around
games of all the current Canadian NCAAers. He made the Horizon League
All-Defense team last year after ranking 2nd in blocks and 3rd
in steals in the conference. He also can score – he was 10th in the
league in 3s made per game and averaged 12.8ppg.

Forward - Levon Kendall –
SR – Pittsburgh

While the
Vancouver native has shown he can put up big numbers for Canada on the
international stage, he is more of a “in the shadows” player for the Panthers.
Still, numerous coaches have given him props in preseason previews for his
all-around game and team first approach. He should remain a steady force for
the highly ranked Pitt squad this season.

Forward - Marlon Pompey – SR
– Texas A&M

Pompey and the Aggies came out of nowhere last season. While the Torontonian
doesn’t put up gaudy stats he is a solid low post defender who lead the team in
blocks last season. Look for him to continue his tough defense and to improve
on his offensive stats.

The new kids on the block aren’t quite as impressive as last year’s, when rookie
Canucks played for UCLA, Michigan, Michigan State and Arizona State. This
year’s class has been depleted even more by a couple of long term injuries (Theo
Davis – Gonzaga – shoulder surgery, Sam Ashaolu – Duquesne – multiple gunshot
wounds to the head). Still there are a few kids who should make an impact (if
not this season then in the future).

Guard – Kaylan Anderson – FR
– Wisconsin-Milwaukee

One of the best players in Toronto and all of Canada, Anderson played a year of
prep ball in Alabama before red shirting last year for the Panthers. The 6’5”
Anderson will be looking to crack the rotation this year.

Guard – Etienne Labrecque –
FR – Quinnipiac

Hailing
from an underrated basketball hotbed – Montreal – the swingman appears to have
worked himself into the playing rotation early in the exhibition schedule.

Forward - Thijin Moses – FR
– Depaul

Born in
the Sudan, Moses originally played his high school ball in Calgary, Alb. before
moving on to finish up his prep career in Chicago. At one point a top 100
recruit, the 6’8” 190lb Moses will probably have to fill out a bit before making
an impact in the Big East.

Forward – Kris Douse – FR – Nebraska

Toronto’s Douse also went down south to finish up his high school
career, playing in North Carolina and finally ending up in Florida last year.
The Huskers website call him an “athletic but raw talent”.

Center - Devin Brennan-McBride – FR – Syracuse

With experienced players ahead of him and most of his senior season in high
school lost to injury, Brennan-McBride will probably spend most of his time
watching from the bench this year. If the early exhibition schedule is any
indicator, the pride of London, Ont. is about the 10th man on the Jim
Boeheim’s depth chart.

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About Jeff Fox

ColumnistNBA Draft & International Hoops

Contactfoxyjj@sympatico.ca

Background

Jeff Fox is a freelance journalist based an hour outside of Toronto, Canada. While attending University of Waterloo (Canada) earning a B.A. in Economics and Management Studies, Jeff managed to walk onto the school’s varsity basketball team, the Warriors, for 2 seasons. His final year riding the pine for the Warriors saw the team make it to the CIS (Canada’s NCAA equivalent) Final 8 tournament. In addition to this site, he is a regular contributor to SLAM magzine (& online) and The Hoops Manifesto. When he isn’t planted in front of his computer he spends the rest of his time with his wife, Lisa, his son, Adam and his dog Jeannie.